Collapsible container for fluids



J. P. AKREP Jan. 16, 1962 COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER FOR FLUIDS Filed Aug. 29

INVENTOR Unite States Patent O 3.016,938 CLLAPSBLE CltllCAlNER FR FLUEDSJoseph P. Alrep, 7939 Saratoga Drive, Bridgeview, Oak Lawn, lil. FiledAng. 29, 196i), Ser. No. 52,747 l Claims. (Cl. 15G-.5) (Granted underTitle 35, US. Code (19,52), sec. 266) The invention described herein, ifpatented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government forgovernmental purposes, without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

rI'his invention relates to fiuid containers and more especially tocollapsible fluid containers.

A primary object of the invention consists in providing a simplifiedcollapsible container of maximum capacity for a rectangular area, suchas that of the conventional pallet.

A further object of the invention resides in the construction of acollapsible container of relatively light weight which is so designed asto take advantage of the fact that most materials exhibit their higheststrengthweight ratio when in tension.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. l is a perspective view of the novel liquid container in use withparts broken away to more clearly show the interior construction;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the container; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail showing the manner ofconstruction of the side walls, etc.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference numerals,the numeral l indicates a conventional pallet such as now in common useand may be of the 2-way or 4-way type as preferred; the presentillustration being of a 2-way type with the passages 2 for the entranceof the forks of a fork lift truck.

Mounted upon the pallet 1 is the novel liquid container which isindicated generally by the numeral 3, and is of cubical shape to conformto the horizontal area of the pallet upon which it is mounted, and toprovide maximum capacity for the larea involved.

In the present illustration, the container is composed of top and bottomwalls 4 and 5 of flexible liquid-proof material and four side walls 6 ofthe same or equivalent material and diaphragms 7 connecting the fourside walls 6, the diaphragms being provided with perforations 8 topermit the passage of liquid from one to the other of the four cellsillustrated. The upper cell may be provided with an inlet valve 9, andthe lower cell with a discharge nozzle 10.

Although the several elements just referred to may be constructed invarious ways, they are here shown as composed of four side walls 6 whichmay be creased, as shown at 11, each of thelcreases being united to therelated diaphragm 7, as indicated by thenumeral 12, and the top andbottom walls 4 and V5 being united to the side walls, as indicated bythe numeral 13. The materials employed in constructing the container mayvary from heavyweight rubber and tire cord combinations down to verythin plastic, such as 4 mil polyethylene, and the joints or seams may beformed in any preferred manner. Also, a rubberized cloth combination maybe substituted for the materials just mentioned, if found desirable. The

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for absorbing the tension which will be applied to the side walls 6 whenthe container is filled with gasoline or other liquid to be transportedor stored in the container.

It is to be noted that the diaphragm members 7 are of such size and areso attached to the side walls 6 of the container as to provide therounded, substantially semicylindrical bulges on each of the four sidesof the container, as clearly illustrated in the several views of thedrawings. It should be mentioned also that the side walls 6 willordinarily be collapsed unless the container is lled with liquid or thelike.

With the container so designed, it is capable of taking advantage of thefact that the materials here employed have their highest strength-weightratio in tension, and all the structural members of this container areso designed as to be in a state of tension when filled with the liquidwith which the container is to be used. Thus, the use of the higheststrength-weight ratio results in a liquid container of very light weightat a low cost.

In accordance with the patent statutes, I have described what I nowconsider to be the preferred form of the invention, but since variousminor changes may be made in structural detatils without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, it is intended that all such changes beincluded within the scope of the appended claims.

I ciaim:

1. A collapsible rectangular container for iluids, Said container havinga plurality of rectangular cells vertical alignment, each of said cellshaving four liexible side walls, a flexible rectangular diaphragm beingprovided between adjacent cells, said diaphragm being provided withdiaphragm members 7, of which there are three employed a plurality ofapertures therethrough for permitting liquid to pass between said cells,the topmost cell being provided with a flexible rectangular top wall,and the bottom-most cell being provided with a flexible rectangularbottom wall and an outlet for said liquid; whereby said rectangularcontainer may vertically expand to its maximum height when lled tocapacity with said liquid, and gradually diminish in height, whileretaining its general rectangular configuration, as said liquid iswithdrawn.

2. A container according to claim l, wherein the said topmost cell isalso provided with an inlet for said liquid.

3. A collapsible rectangular container for fluids, said container havingfour rectangular cells in vertical alignment, each of said cells havingfour flexible side walls, three flexible rectangular diaphragms, each ofsaid diaphragms being provided between a pair lof adjacent cells, saiddiaphragm being provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough forpermitting liquid to pass between said cells, the topmost cell beingprovided with a flexible rectangular top wall and with an inlet for saidliquid, and the bottom-most cell being provided with a flexiblerectangular bottom wall and an outlet for said liquid; whereby saidrectangular container may vertically expand to a generally cubicalconfiguration when filled to capacity with said liquid, and graduallydiminish in height, while retaining a general rectangular configuration,as said liquid is withdrawn.

4. A container according to claim 1, `made of polyethylene material.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,672,254 Boardman Mar. 16, 1954 2,931,409 Unthank Apr. 5, 1960 FOREIGNPATENTS 55,539 Norway Aug. 12, 1935 75,209 NetherlandsV July 15, 1954UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE vCERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent Neo3Ol6938 January 16, 1962 Josephvl?o Akrep It is hereby certified thaterror' appears in the above numbered patent requiring'correction andthat the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Signed and sealed this 5th day of June 1962;

(SEAL). Attest:

4ERNEST w.. swIDEE DAVID L. LADD Ating Officr Commissioner of Patents

